Summer Reading Volunteers

Are you looking for something interesting and rewarding to do over the summer? Are you aged 13 to 24? Do you know someone who is? If the answer's yes, then why not volunteer to help us deliver the Summer Reading Challenge in some of our libraries? We're recruiting right now. We're looking for volunteers to help us with a variety of activities such as:

• encouraging children to sign up to the challenge
• talking to children about what they've read
• helping them find what they want to read next
• assisting with the delivery of children’s activities
• creating displays
• helping out at medal ceremonies

You can read more on our website and apply online.

(illustrations by Julian Beresford 2022)

Hi Vis Fortnight - June 6th - 19th 

 Hi Vis fortnight is an annual event that highlights the importance of accessible libraries and reading for people who are blind, have sight loss or who cannot use standard print.

Derbyshire libraries have books in large print and giant print, audio books on CD as well as a huge range of ebooks and eaudio books that can be downloaded, check here.

Our Home Library Service can deliver large print, audio and other library items to your home if you are unable to visit a library. Please check here for further details.

Chesterfield, Staveley and Swadlincote libraries will have Hi Vis displays during this fortnight.

Meet a representative from Borrowbox who will be available to help you to download and use the app on your phone or tablet, at Staveley and Chesterfield libraries on Monday June 13th:

Staveley Library - 10 am to 12 noon

Chesterfield Library - 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

contact ask.library@derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01629 533444 for further information.

Quick Reads

Eight new Quick Read titles were published in  April 2022, and are now available to borrow from Derbyshire Libraries!

Designed to promote the joy of reading, these short books are by popular and bestselling UK authors, and are accessible and easy to read.

For a list of the authors and titles and for further information on Quick Reads from the Reading Agency, please click here.

eBooks & eAudiobooks on uLibrary

If you've not downloaded our uLIBRARY app for eAudiobooks yet, this is the perfect time! Featuring an exclusive library of titles for you to listen to whenever the mood takes you, from the adventures of Jack Reacher to the family sagas of years gone by, make sure you get the app or browse the online catalogue to pick out your next weekend read. 

For more info on our eLending platforms click here, ring 01629 533444, or contact ask.library@derbyshire.gov.uk.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Right Royal Stories

We still have places available at Eckington, Ilkeston, Matlock, Heanor and Belper for a royally fabulous family storytelling extravaganza. As well as sharing folktales and legends of wise royals, our storytellers, Rachel and Tim, will dig deep into their story stores for tales which celebrate the part we all play in making our communities places of celebration – bringing enjoyment, hilarity, variety and personal empowerment to these story sessions. This is a free event and can be booked on Eventbrite.

Baby Babble

Derbyshire Sure Start Librarians Trudy Lowen and Nicola Rushton delivered a webinar to the online NAG seminar,  focusing on how the Children’s team re-worked the Baby Babble offer for social media during the pandemic and how they responded post pandemic. The Local Government Association  asked them to write this up as a case study for their website. We are very proud that not only was the case study published but was chosen to headline the front page of the LGA website. The case study can be found here.

Our popular Baby Babble courses for 4 - 9 month old babies will be running at these libraries in June.

Please contact the libraries if you'd like to sign up:

Dronfield Library for 5 weeks from Monday 6th June 01629 533450

Heanor Library for 5 weeks from Tuesday 7^th June 01629 533795

Glossop Library for 5 weeks from Thursday 16th June 01629 531199

More sessions will follow so please keep an eye out on our Facebook page for details! Email ask.library@derbyshire.gov.uk or ring 01629 533444 for more info.

Our Library Blog

Wondering what to read next? For fresh ideas and inspiration visit our library blog.

Our latest feature is by Samantha who is looking at not one book but seventy as she picks her own favourites from the 70 Big Jubilee Read titles. To find out more click here. 

We'd love to hear about your favourites from the list. Are there any titles you would have included? Let us know here.

Derbyshire Record Office

Coronation celebrations

As we’re getting ready to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, did you know that Derbyshire held a massive Coronation pageant in 1953? It was held in the grounds of Chatsworth and featured a cast of around 400 amateur performers! Find out more about this unique spectacle in this blog post.

In other posts we’ll be looking at The Great Derby & County Coronation Year Exhibition, which featured exciting new products such as paper kitchen towel, and we’ll be delving into Derby’s culinary link to Coronation Chicken. Follow our blog to get these fascinating stories sent direct to your inbox!

Buxton Museum & Art Gallery

For the latest news about Buxton Museum & Art Gallery be sure to visit their blog or visit the official website. 

Opening hours are:

Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm, last admission 4pm.

Sundays (Easter to end of September): 12pm to 4pm, last admission 3.30pm.

Bank holidays: 12pm to 4pm, last admission 3.30pm.

Get qualified to work in Adult Social Care

Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service have an Adult Social Care sector work based academy starting on 8 June.

These courses are for people who are unemployed actively seeking work and are interested in working in the customer service or adult social care sector. You'll learn the skills and knowledge to prepare for work in either of these sectors. These courses are free.

The next course is on 8 June 2022. To book your place, email: hazel.jones22@nhs.net

You'll learn: 

• skills and knowledge to work in adult social care
• what job opportunities are available in adult social care
• impartial advice from Derbyshire Careers Service
• what other skills and qualifications may be required

You'll gain a NCFE Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care.

Visit Sector Work Based Academy programmes for more information on what we can offer.

New Adult Books Coming in June

There are plenty of new adult fiction titles to choose from in May.  You can reserve them via our online catalogue. We’ve highlighted three titles we hope you’ll enjoy:

Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby

It’s January 1804 and Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent to take up the position of governess. She has no previous experience, but a change of circumstances means she must earn a living. As governess she is neither one of the servants nor one of the family and needs to tread a delicate line. She has just begun to settle into her position when dashing Henry Austen and his younger sister Jane come to stay. Both take an immediate interest in Anne who quickly becomes drawn into the life of the Austen family.

Fool for Love by Deborah Moggach

A book of short stories for you to enjoy, from swimming on Hampstead Heath to illicit trysts in hayfields. It covers the gamut of human nature - our foibles, our loves, our desires, hopes, ambitions and failures.

At the Captain’s table by Gervaise Phinn

Gervaise Phinn takes to the seas with his latest novel set aboard a cruise ship. There’s a cast of colourful characters taking the opportunity to escape from their ordinary lives and many friendships, rivalries and romances follow.

June is Crime reading month, here are some titles that fit the bill:

Cat and Mouse by M.J. Arlidge

The Murder Book by Mark Billingham

Loyalty by Martina Cole

The Botanist by M.W. Craven

Running Scared by Mandasue Heller

Girl Forgotten by Karin Slaughter and

The Blackbird by Tim Weaver

There are holds already on all these titles. To add yourself to the list of any, go to your local library or place a hold yourself via our online catalogue

Multi-Use Titles

Every month we get a new selection of titles on our BorrowBox app of both eBooks and eAudiobooks that can be taken out by multiple users at one time. These stay multi-use for 60 days, so if you have a book club and you're looking for your next title then one of these could be your next choice! 

You can find these titles on the main BorrowBox page, identified as a collection with 'No Waiting!' or 'Available Now!'

Titles available from June are:

In eBook and eAudiobook format:

• Mrs England by Stacey Halls 
• The Beijing Conspiracy by Shamini Flint 
• Lampedusa by Steven Price

In eAudiobook format only:

• Maurice by E M Forster (read by Ben Wishaw) 
• The searcher by Tana French 

In eBook format only:

• The Crown by Robert Lacey 
• How to be a refugee by Simon May

This Month We Recommend You Read...

There are some excellent new books coming out in June for children, which you can reserve on our online library catalogue right now. Here's three to look forward to:

Escape to the River Sea - Emma Carroll

In 1946, Rosa Sweetman, a young Kindertransport girl, is longing for her family to claim her. The war in Europe is over and she is the only child left at Westwood, a rambling country estate in the north of England, where she'd taken refuge seven years earlier. The arrival of a friend of the family, Yara Fielding, starts an adventure that will take Rosa deep into the lush beauty of the Amazon rainforest in search of jaguars, ancient giant sloths and somewhere to belong. What she finds is Yara's lively, welcoming family on the banks of the river and, together, they face a danger greater than she could ever have imagined.

The Primrose Railway Children - Jacqueline Wilson

Sit back and enjoy the journey! Phoebe Robinson loves making up stories - just like her wonderful, imaginative Dad. When he mysteriously disappears, Phoebe, Perry, Becks and their mum must leave everything behind and move to a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. Struggling to feel at home and missing her Dad terribly, Phoebe's only distraction is her guinea pig Daisy. Until the family discover the thrilling steam trains at the railway station and suddenly, every day is filled with adventure. But Phoebe still can't help wondering, what is Mum hiding and more worryingly is Dad okay?

'Twas the Night Before Pride - Joanna McClintick & Juana Medina

A glittering celebration of queer families puts Pride gently in perspective - honouring those in the LBGTQ+ community who fought against injustice and inequality. Pride's a day that means 'Together, we are strong!'. This joyful picture-book homage to a day of community and inclusion - and to the joys of anticipation - is also a comprehensive history.

Need a further suggestion? We're always delighted to suggest a story! Contact us on Facebook, Twitter, or ask.library@derbyshire.gov.uk and we'll do our best to find you something fantastic!

Keep in touch with Derbyshire Libraries via social media

Follow us on our Derbyshire Libraries Facebook & Twitter pages, and talk to us about books on our new Blog page!